Addis Ababa, October 29, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said the Russian-language edition of his book Medemer offers an opportunity to introduce Ethiopia’s centuries-old indigenous knowledge, philosophies and beliefs to a wider international audience, highlighting their potential to positively influence people beyond the country.
Speaking at the launch of the Russian edition in Moscow on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the Third Russia–Africa Summit, PM Abiy emphasized the importance of bringing Ethiopian intellectual traditions to global audiences, noting that Ethiopia and the wider African continent possess a rich body of indigenous thought developed over centuries.
“Those beliefs and ideologies, if they could get an audience out there, definitely they will impact so many individuals in a very positive way,” he said.
The Prime Minister described Medemer as a guiding philosophy that informs how Ethiopia governs, develops its economy and works with international partners. He said its emphasis on synergy and collective achievement was contributing to developments in the country’s economic and political landscape, as well as its external relations.
He expressed confidence that making the philosophy available in Russian would allow readers in the country to engage with Ethiopia’s ideas and benefit from their insights.
“As you can see, Medemer, a philosophy which guides on how we can synergistically deliver, synergistically do something, is helping Ethiopia big time on our economy, on our political landscape, also on how we are working with partners,” PM Abiy said.
He added that bringing the book to Russian readers would extend the reach of these ideas and create an opportunity for people in Russia to explore the philosophy in their own language.
The Prime Minister thanked RT for translating the book into Russian, expressing appreciation for the work and describing the edition as a valuable gift to both Ethiopia and the Russian people. He also voiced pride in the partnership and hope for continued cooperation.
The launch took place in Moscow alongside the Third Russia–Africa Summit, adding an intellectual and cultural dimension to Ethiopia–Russia engagement by bringing Ethiopian indigenous thought to a new readership.